paine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. PAINE. PNEUMATIC TUNNELING APPARATUS. No. 445,194. v Patented Jan. 2'7, 1891.

2 Sheets -Sh'eet 2.

(No Model.)

W. H. PAINE. PNEUMATIC TUNNELING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 27,1891

UNiTnn STATES PATENT Tries.

WILLIAM II. PAINE, OF NEIV YORK, N. 'Y.

PNEUMATIC TUNNELING APPARATUS.

{EPECIFEGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,194, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed February 25, 1890. Serial No. 341,640. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM II. PAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pnnematic Tunneling Apparatus, of which the following is a specificalion.

My invention relates, broadly, to the combination of one or more air-locks of the ordinary or an improved pattern, as hereinafter recited, with a diaphragm or partition for inelosing the air-chan'iber or heading in advance of the air-locks,such air-locks and diaphragm. being connected or otherwise suitably arranged so as to produce the improved results, as will be fully set forth and shown.

Specifically my invention consists in so connecting and arranging the airlocks and diaphragm or partition that they can be moved simultaneously backward and forward and without disconnection, thereby attaining a result not heretofore attempted.

My invention also consists in certain details, one of which is the mounting of the airlocks upon wheels or trucks and providing, if desired, tracks on the bottom of the tunnel whereby the air-locks with the diaphragm or partition can be moved with greater ease and economy than heretofore.

My invention also consists in the particular construction or shape of the diaphragm or partition, as I make it conical in shape and present the concave surface to the airchamber or heading at the inner end of the tunnel and provide suitable braces and means of connection to the air-locks, whereby the pressure can be fully sustained, combining therewith means for filling the spaces between the periphery of the diaphragm or partition and the walls of the tunnel.

In connection with my invention I also construct safety doors or valves for the diaphragm or partition, which will operate automatically upon a sudden increase of airpressme in the air-chamber or heading; or it can be opened otherwise, as may be desired, and as will be explained.

My invention also consists in other details hereinaftermentioned, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure I represents a perspective view of a section of a tunnel, tracks located upon the bottom of said tunnel, and my improved pneumatic tunneling apparatus in connection therewith. Fig. II is an end view. Fig. III is a longitudinal section, and Fig. IV is a detail view.

In the drawings, A represents segments and constitutes sections of the lining of the tunnel, and which when arranged as shown in Figs. I and II form a complete circle. These segments are all of the same size and are illterchangeable, being provided with flanges a, whereby each segment can be bolted to the segment immediately contiguous to it.

B are tracks extending longitudinally along the bottom of the tunnel, being bolted to the flanges a of the tunnel-sections.

O is a truck having wheels D traveling on the aforesaid tracks, on which are mounted one or more air-locks E. These air-locks are arranged preferably in pairs and side by side, as shown, and each lock is provided at each end with a door F.

At G, I show a diaphragm or partition, made of steel or iron, securely bolted to the air locks,'as shown in Fig. I. This diaphragm is conical in shape, and the concave or hollow portion faces the inner end of the tunnel, and the space between the inner face of the diaphragm and the inner end of the tunnel constitutes the air-chamber or heading. The doors F upon the inner end of the air-locks open outward, and the pressure in the airchamber or heading tends to keep them normally closed.

It will be seen by referring to the drawings that I construct the diaphragm or partition of a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the tunnel, so that it can be moved backward and forward without coming in contact with the tunnel structure. It is therefore necessary to provide means for filling in the space between the periphery of the diaphragm or partition and the walls of the tunnel, and to do this I provide filling-pieces II, as shown to a larger scale in Fig. IV, which fillingpieccs overlap the diaphragm or partition G and the flange a of the tunnel-lining, and in connection with the filling-pieces I provide clamps J, and through the clamps and filling pieces I extend bolts L, which when the parts are properly arranged and adjusted are adapted to lock them securely together.

When it is desired to advance the appara tus, the filling-pieces and clamps can be removed, and after the air-locks and the diaphragm or partition have been transported to a further inwarc'lposition the filling-pieces and clampsare replaced and the bolts readjusted. These filling-pieces and clamps will necessarily have to extend around the entire periphery of the diaphragm,so as to properly confine the air in the air-chamber or heading.

At M, I show the doors or valves in the diaphragm above the air-locks. These doors are properly hinged at N,and being equipped with counterbalancing-weights O (or their spring equivalents) a sudden pressure in the air chamber or heading, such as may be caused by an explosion of fire-damp or otherwise, will automatically open the safety-doors and permit the air-chamber or heading to be automatically and promptly relieved of its abnormal pressure.

The advantage attained in the employment of double air-locks or two air-locks placed side by side, such as I have shown and described, is that one look can always be kept open on the inner side, or on the end toward the air-chamber or heading, for the safety of the men in the air-chamber or heading, a door being thus always provided for escape and is not locked in beyond possibility of egress, as

is usually the case when only one look is provided. I also contemplate using two sets of these air-locks, one in advance of the other, so that one can be moved forward While the other is holding the air-pressure, thus making no detention in the progress of the Work. The doors 1*, opening into the air-chamber or heading, may be provided with rubber or other packing upon their edges, so that tight contact is made when they are closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pneumatic tunneling apparatus, the combination of two or more air-locks with a diaphragm or partition made of steel or iron for inclosing the air-chamber or heading.

2. In a pneumatic tunneling apparatus, the combination of two or more air-locks with a diaphragm or partition connected to each other and so arranged as that they may both be moved together while so connected.

3. In a pneumatic tunneling apparatus, the combination of two or more air-locks mounted on wheels or trucks, as described, with a diaphragm or partition attached to the said locks, whereby the whole apparatus can be moved simultaneously, if desired, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a pneumatic tunneling apparatus, the combination of two or more air-locks with a concave-shaped or conical diaphragm or partition, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a pneumatic tunneling apparatus, the

combination of one or more air-locks with a diaphragm or partition of somewhat smaller diameter than the interior of the tunnel, and means, substantially as shown, for filling the space between the periphery of the diaphragm. and the walls of the tunnel.

6. In a pneumatic tunneling apparatus, the combination, with one or more air-locks, of a diaphragm or partition closing the interstice between said air-locks and the tunnel-walls, the said diaphragm having ports which when open afford communication from the heading to the main tunnel-way, said ports being normally closed by externally-weighted safety doors or valves adapted to be opened automatically by any excess above a predetermined heading pressure, as and for the purposes set forth.

WILLIAM H. PAINE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT GILLHAM, WILLIAM RUSSELL. 

